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Category Archives: Box Sets

Summer is now coming to an end for many children throughout the country. Soon, if not already, your child will step on that yellow school bus and travel back to school. She or he will need a backpack, a good water bottle, a lunch box, notebooks and other school supplies. In addition, you may want to pack a small book to amuse your child on the bus, before school starts and during other quiet times. In fact, my daughter’s school requires students to bring reading with them. Of course, kids being kids, books might come back damaged or not at all. You probably don’t want to send in expensive hardcover books with your child and library books, while always a good option, might go missing. So, I assembled a list of series books that are entertaining to read, lightweight and cost under $5 each on Amazon.com. For the record, I am an Amazon affiliate. For the first post (Part One), I will focus on available box sets for different chapter book series. Purchasing a box set can help reduce costs, as a set is often cheaper than individual books. But of course, not all series are available as sets, so I included other paperback series books and small game books in my second post (Part Two).

Part One: 16 Chapter Book Box Sets That Promote ReadingThe collections are listed from easiest to hardest guided reading level according to Scholastic. All of these books can be read individually or as a set. These books are primarily intended for first through sixth graders. Feel free to comment or email me at lizATchildrensbookbin.com with any questions.

The Frog and Toad Collection Box SetBy Arnold LobelIncludes:Frog and Toad All Year, Frog and Toad Are Friends, and Frog and Toad TogetherPremise: Frog and Toad are best friends. Frog is patient; Toad is a bit silly. Together, they have been entertaining children for over 40 years. Good for kids who are beginning readers and animal lovers.My Daughter’s Rating: Liked ItCost for the Collection: $9.50Cost Per Book: $3.17Reading Level for Frog and Toad Are Friends According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 2.4, Lexile Measure®: 400L, Guided Reading: K

Magic Tree House Boxed Set, Books 1-4By Mary Pope OsborneIncludes:Dinosaurs Before Dark, The Knight at Dawn, Mummies in the Morning, and Pirates Past NoonAlso available:Magic Tree House Boxed Set, Books 1-28Premise: Jack and Annie are normal siblings until they discover a magical tree house that travels through space and time. Good for fantasy fans and future Dr. Who viewers. This is also the most educational series on the list.My Daughter’s Rating: Loved itCost for the Collection: $11.67Cost Per Book: $2.92Reading Level of Dinosaurs Before Dark According to Scholastic: Grade level Equivalent: 2.5, Lexile Measure®: 240L, Guided Reading: M

Ivy & Bean’s Secret Treasure Box (Books 1-3)By Annie BarrowsIncludes:Ivy and Bean, Ivy, Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go,Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record, plus a special treasure box bookAlso available:Ivy and Bean Boxed Set 2 and soon Ivy & Bean Boxed Set: Books 7-9 Premise: Ivy and Bean are neighbors that couldn’t be more different. Somehow they end up becoming best friends. Good for children who like reading about friendships.My Daughter’s Rating: Loved itCost for Collection: $13.97Cost Per Book: $4.66Reading Level of Ivy and Bean According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 2.7, Lexile Measure®: 510L, Guided Reading: M

The Flat Stanley Collection Box SetBy Jeff BrownIncludes:Flat Stanley, Stanley in Space, Invisible Stanley, Stanley, Flat Again!Premise: In Flat Stanley, Stanley is hit by a bulletin board and becomes flat. After many exciting events and travels, he regains his original shape. The series continues Stanley’s exploits. Good for kids who enjoy adventure stories.My Daughter’s Rating: She has only read the first one, but she liked it O.K.Cost for the Collection: $10.79Cost Per Book: $2.70Reading Level for Flat Stanley According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 4.4, Lexile Measure®: 640L, Guided Reading: M

A Collection of Katie: Books 1-4 (Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo)By Nancy KrulikIncludes:Anyone But Me, Out to Lunch, Oh, Baby, and Girls Don’t Have Cooties.Premise: A “magical wind” turns Katie into different people, such as the lunch ladies, babies and boys. Good for building empathy in children.My Daughter’s Rating: Liked itCost for the Collection: $7.19Cost Per Book: $1.80Reading Level of Out to Lunch According to Scholastic: Grade level Equivalent: 3.5, Lexile Measure®: 610L, Guided Reading: M

Junie B. Jones’s First Boxed Set Ever! (Books 1-4)By Barbara ParkIncludes:Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying, Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth, Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, and Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly BusPremise: This is honestly not my favorite series, but tons of kids love Junie B. with her goofball stunts and babytalk. Good for children who like humor and over the top situations.Also available:Junie B.’s Books in a Bus! (Books 1-27!)My Daughter’s Rating: Liked itCost for the Collection: $12.07Cost Per Book: $3.02Reading Level of Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 2.1, Lexile Measure®: 410L, Guided Reading: M

The Boxcar Children Bookshelf (The Boxcar Children Mysteries, Books 1-12)By Gertrude Chandler WarnerIncludes:The Boxcar Children, Surprise Island, The Yellow House Mystery, Mystery Ranch, Mike’s MysteryPremise: This series is over 70 years old, but children still enjoy reading about this group of orphans that lived in a boxcar and then moved in with their grandfather. Good for kids who like mysteries.My Daughter’s Rating: Liked itCost for the Collection: $37.78Cost Per Book: $3.15Reading Level of The Boxcar Children According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 3.2, Lexile Measure®: 490L, Guided Reading: O

The Complete Ramona CollectionBy Beverly ClearyIncludes:Beezus and Ramona, Ramona the Pest, Ramona the Brave, Ramona and Her Father, Ramona and Her Mother, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, Ramona Forever, Ramona’s WorldPremise: Ramona is the second-born daughter and can’t seem to do anything right. Good for mischievous children who love comedy and real world adventures.My Daughter’s Rating: Loved itCost for the Collection: $29.48Cost Per Book: $3.69Reading Level for Beezus and Ramona According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 4.8, Lexile Measure®: 780L, Guided Reading: O

Box of Clementines, A (3-Book Paperback Boxed Set)By Sara PennypackerIncludes:Clementine, The Talented Clementine, Clementine’s LetterPremise: Clementine is a high-spirited third graders who has many adventures. Good for Ramona lovers and children who like realistic fiction.My Daughter’s Rating: Liked itCost for the Collection: $11.48Cost Per Book: $3.83Reading Level for Clementine According to Scholastic: Grade level Equivalent: 4.5, Lexile Measure®: 790L, Guided Reading: O

The New Captain Underpants Collection (Books 1-5)By Dav PilkeyIncludes:The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets, Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space, Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants, and Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie WomanPremise: Captain Underpants is actually an evil school principal who is periodically enchanted by a group of kids and turns into an extremely off the wall superhero. Good for kids who enjoy potty humor and slapstick.My Daughter’s Rating: Loved itCost for the Collection: $20.46Cost Per Book: $4.09Reading Level of The Adventures of Captain Underpants According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 4.3, Lexile Measure®: 720L, Guided Reading: P

Encyclopedia Brown Box Set (4 Books)By Donald J. SobolIncludes:Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret Pitch, Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues, Encyclopedia Brown Gets His ManPremise: This is classic series about a boy who helps his police chief father solve mysteries. Good for kids who love mysteries.My Daughter’s Rating: She hasn’t read it yet, but that will be fixed soon.Cost for the Collection: $14.47Cost Per Book: $3.61Reading Level for Encyclopedia Brown According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 3.9, Lexile Measure®: 560L, Guided Reading: P

Judy Blume’s Fudge Box SetBy Judy BlumeIncludes:Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Superfudge, Fudge-a-Mania, and Double Fudge.Premise: Peter is fed up with his irresponsible and badly-behaved (but charming) little brother – Fudge. Good for kids who like funny books and reading about sibling dynamics.My Daughter’s Rating: Liked itCost for the Collection: $20.46Cost Per Book: $4.09Reading Level for Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 4.9, Lexile Measure®: 470L, Guided Reading: Q

The Spiderwick Chronicles, the Complete SeriesBy Tony DiTerlizziIncludes: The Field Guide, The Seeing Stone, Lucinda’s Secret, The Ironwood Tree, The Wrath of MulgrathPremise: Children move into a house only to discover that it is inhabited with magical creatures – many of them dangerous. This is a great early choice for fantasy fans.My Daughter’s Rating: Loved itCost for the Collection: $23.38Cost Per Book: $4.68Reading Level for the Field Guide According to Scholastic – Grade level Equivalent: 4.1, Lexile Measure®: 600L, Guided Reading: Q